Gold, silver, pgms, mining and geopolitical comment and news

Gold Today –Gold closed in New York at $1,358.10 on Wednesday after Tuesday’s close at $1,364.50.

The $: € was up at $1.1135from $1.1197.

The dollar index rose to 95.67 from 95.09 Wednesday.

The Yen was weaker at 101.48 from Wednesday’s 101.06 against the dollar.

The Yuan was weaker at 6.6409 from 6.6291 Wednesday.

Yuan Gold Fix

Trade Date

Contract

Benchmark Price AM

Benchmark Price PM

2016 08 4

2016 08 3

SHAU

SHAU

289.78

291.04

289.08

291.42

Dollar equivalent @ $1: 6.6409

$1: 6.6291

$1,357.22

$1,365.55

$1,353.94

$1,356.11

Shanghai prices saw prices consolidate at lower levels ahead of the Bank of England’s statements today. But the main driver of the day was a correcting U.S. dollar in what we see as a normal market reaction to its recent weaknesses.

LBMA price setting: $1,351.15 after Wednesday 3rd August’s $1,364.40.

The gold price in the euro was set at €1,213.75 up €4.46 from Wednesday’s €1,218.21.

Ahead of the opening in New Yorkthe gold price stood at $1,356.90 and in the euro at €1,219.03, but moved back up to over $1,360 as trading progressed.

Silver Today –The silver price closed in New York at $20.41 on Wednesday down from $20.61 on Tuesday.Ahead of New York’s opening the price was trading at $20.32, but again silver advanced during the day to stand at around $20.38 at midday in New York.

Price Drivers

The Bank of England lowered interest rates by 0.25% and said it had scope to do more if needed, including taking the key rate close to zero, they also announced a plan to lend as much as £100 billion ($132 billion) to banks to ensure the measures reach the real economy. In addition, the Monetary Policy Committee will buy £60 billion of government bonds over six months and as much as £10 billion of corporate bonds in the next 18 months. In total, the balance sheet could expand by £170 billion.

The bank cut its growth forecast for next year to 0.8% from 2.3% and lowered its 2018 prediction to 1.8% from 2.3%. The pound dropped over a percent to $1.3135 immediately after the statement, but this still higher than its level immediately post the Brexit vote..

The dollar’s performance is largely going unnoticed as it continues to trade between 95 and 97 on the dollar index. On the basis of its economy’s performance it should be much stronger. On the basis of its Trade balance the dollar should have collapsed long ago, but the U.S. accounts as the dominant world power which has made the dollar a haven for all other currencies. But this situation is starting to change as its role as the sole currency with which to pay for oil is changing, as is its role as the last resort currency haven. The credibility of currencies as the monetary expression of government is weakening in line with the destabilization of the monetary world. Gold is not a monetary alternative for many reasons, but it is a vehicle with which to shore up confidence, particularly if it can be eliminated as competition to currencies.

Gold ETFs – In New York on Wednesday there were sales of 0.052 of a tonne sold from the SPDR gold ETF but no change in the Gold Trust holdings. This left their respective holdings at 969.648 tonnes and 219.65 tonnes.

Silver –Silver prices were more cautious today than gold prices ahead of the Bank of England’s announcement.